Automatic record press

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a machine for manufacturing articles requiring a plurality of successive operations. The machine includes a plurality of work stations equidistantly spaced from each other in the line of progression of the successive operation and each work station is equipped with operation performing instrumentalities suitable for those particular stations. A reciprocable workpiece transport means periodically and simultaneously transports all workpieces in their various stages of completion to the next work station so that at each cycle of operation the machine is performing the required operations on a plurality of articles. The illustrated embodiment is a machine for the automatic production of phonograph records.

United States Patent Wechsler 1451 Jan. 197

[54] AUTOMATIC RECORD PRESS 3,412,427 11/1968 Flusfeder et a1... ..1s/5.3 P

3,514,813 6/1970 Westermann 18/53 F [72] lnvemm' Wechsle" Glendale 3,528,127 9/1970 Damm et al. ..1s/5.3 P

[73] Assignee: Capitol Records, Inc., Hollywood, Calif. [22] Filed: Jan. 8, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 789,829

Primary Examiner-J. Howard Flint, Jr. Attorney-Spensley, Horn and Lubitz [57] ABSTRACT There is disclosed a machine for manufacturing articles requiring a plurality of successive operations. The machine includes a plurality of work stations equidistantly spaced from each other in the line of progression of the successive operation and each work station is equipped with operation performing instrumentalities suitable for those particular stations. A reciprocable workpiece transport means periodically and simultaneously transports all workpieces in their various stages of completion to the next work station so that at each cycle of operation the machine is performing the required operations on a plurality of articles. The illustrated embodiment is a machine for the automatic production of phonograph records.

5 Claims, 42 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJANISYZ 3,535,622

SHEET 01 0F 15 o m m 0 e/ II v 1. Jilll v @w H M INVENTQR PAIENIEB JMH 8 m2 sum 09 or 15 INVENTOR PAUL H WECHSLER AUTOMATIC RECORD PRESS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I. Field of the Invention In its broadest aspect, the invention relates to multiple operation machines classifiable in Class 29-563. In the specific illustrated embodiment, the invention relates to phonograph record manufacturing machines generally classifiable in Class 1846.

2. Prior Art Having regard for the broad aspect of the invention, the known art includes US. Pat. Nos. 3,241,231; 3,266,140 and 3,293,743.

Having regard for the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the prior art known to applicant includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,743,478; 2,853,737; 3,086,512; 3,186,029 and 3,264,386.

SUMMARY Efficient production of any article which requires a number of successive operations may be based on a time cycle involving the time required for that one of the series of operations which requires the longest time, plus the time for loading the article for the performance of that operation and plus the time for unloading it. This time may be reduced if the loading time can be combined with the unloading time. Specifically, in the present invention, there is provided a machine having a plurality of work stations for the successive operations required for the article. The workpieces are introduced at one of the stations and a reciprocating work transport means during its movement in one direction simultaneously advances all of the workpieces at the various stations at which work has been per formed to the next station in the series. Thus, the unloading of one station is the loading of the next station.

In the illustrated embodiment, an automatic machine for producing phonograph records, the same instrumentality simultaneously advances all of the records at all of the stations on which operations have been performed to the next station in the series so that one handling time serves as the loading and unloading time interval for all of the stations and this is achieved with the consequent simplicity of not having a different transporting mechanism for each transport activity. Moreover, the transport means following the pressing of the record is such that a record which is still somewhat soft is safely handled without danger of surface damage or warping and the trimming of the flash is also accomplished while the record is in a relatively soft condition all of which contributes the efficient production of phonograph records at rates which are higher than has heretofore been thought possible.

Other objectives and advantages of the invention both for the manufacture of phonograph records and for the use of the principles of the invention for the manufacture of articles other than phonograph records will be apparent as the specific description of the illustrated and presently preferred embodiment of the invention proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings which form a part of the specification following illustrate a presently preferred embodiment of the invention and in these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automatic machine for producing phonograph records embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a medial longitudinal side elevational view of the machine shown in FIG. 1, certain of the parts being shown in full lines where so doing better serves to illustrate the invention;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view taken in the horizontal plane of the top edges of the frame members of the frame structure, the portions of the machine extending above said plane being shown in section;

FIGS. 30 and 3b are enlarged scale, fragmentary sectional views taken on the lines 3a-3a and 3b3b of FIG. 3, respectively;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view taken in the same plane as FIG. 3 but showing the workpiece transport means at the end of travel opposite that shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged scale, transverse, fragmentary sectional view taken generally in the plane of the line 5-5 of FIG. 2 of the raw-material-receiving station prior to the delivery of raw material thereto;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged scale, fragmentary sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 5 taken at right angles thereto as indicated by the line 6-6 of FIG. 5 showing the delivery of a mass of softened plastic material from the supply source to the operating instrumentalities of the machine;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the relative positions of the parts upon the completion of delivery of the desired quantity of material for a single record;

FIG. 8 is a greatly enlarged perspective view of one of the jaw elements employed in transporting the delivered material from the point of receipt of raw material to the next station of the machine;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged scale transverse sectional view taken generally in the plane of the line 9-9 of FIG. 2 showing the label-applying apparatus of the machine;

FIG. 10 is a view taken at right angles to the view of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a duplex plan view of the label-dispensing ends of the oppositely disposed upper and lower label magazines which are mirror image duplicates wherefore, the identifying numbers of both magazines have been applied to each described component;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary view generally like FIG. 10 but showing the magazines moved into label applying engagement with the record material and with the transport elements which will carry combined record material and label to the next work station disposed between the magazines to predetermine the thickness of the mass of the record material;

FIG. 13 is a transverse view on the axial line of the record pressing station, the plunger component being raised;

FIG. 13a is an elevation of a portion of FIG. 13 taken on the line 13al3a of FIG. 13;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary view of the center portion shown in FIG. 13 but with the record material moved into the mold and the plunger component moved down to grip the record material;

FIG. 15 is another view similar to FIG. 13 but showing the press closed and the record pressed WIII'll the flash engaging the gripper members;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged scale, fragmentary, sectional view of the subassembly comprising the adapter, the plunger-operating cylinder and the plunger of the record press station, together with portions of the associated mold components in the position occupied when the press is closed;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged and elevational view of one of the gripper block members and a mounting therefor which transports a pressed record from the record press;

FIG. 18 is a top plan view of the gripper block and its mounting shown in FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a side elevational view looking from the inside of one of the side members of the frame structure showing the safety block means which is employed to prevent unintended closure of the record press while being serviced;

FIG. 20 is a transverse view of the punch and die station of the machine taken on the line 20-20 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary view of FIG. 20 but showing the punch at the end of its stroke forming the center hole of a record;

FIG. 22 is a side elevational view of the gripper means shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 moving past the associated stripper device;

FIG. 23 is a side elevational view generally like FIG. 22 but showing the detent means engaging the flash of a record which has been transported to the punch and die station as the transport means begins to move in the opposite direction;

FIG. 24 is an enlarged scale, vertical sectional view of the punch and die mechanism, the view being taken at right angles to and on line 24-24 of FIG. 20;

FIGS. 24a and 24b are sectional views taken on the lines 24a-24a and 24b-24b of FIG. 24. respectively;

FIG. 25 is a view transversely of the frame taken on the line 25-25 of FIG. 2 and showing the trimmer in its inactive position in full lines and the active position being indicated in clotted lines;

FIG. 25a is a sectional view taken on the line 25a-25a of FIG. 25;

FIG. 26 is a top plan view of the trimmer apparatus shown in FIG. 25 shown in its operative position in full lines and in its inactive position in dotted lines;

FIG. 27 is a top plan view of the rear end of the sled component of the machine particularly showing the crossmember which carry vacuum cups and the associated tubing extending between the vacuum source and vacuum cups;

FIG. 28 is a section taken on the line 2828 of FIG. 27;

FIG. 29 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 29- 29 of FIG. 27;

FIG. 30 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 30 30 of FIG. 28 showing particularly the interior construction of the manifold means for the rear crossmember of the work transporting sled;

FIG. 30a is a view taken transversely of the frame structure on lines 30a30a of FIG. 28 showing the construction of a suction cup and manifold;

FIG. 31 is a view taken transversely of the frame structure on the line 313l of FIG. 2 and particularly showing the record cooling station;

FIG. 32 is a view similar to FIG. 31 and similarly showing the station to which the finished articles are delivered;

FIG. 33 is a diagrammatic view of the various fluid systems of the machine;

FIG. 34 is a schematic drawing of the electrical system of the machine; and

FIG. 35 is a series of views showing the transformation of the initially received mass of plastic material into the finished record.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In general, the illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises an elongated horizontal frame structure along which various work stations are located including instrumentalities for performing the various successive operations in the production of a finished phonograph record from the raw materials. The frame structure also supports a reciprocable transport means (hereinafter called the sled) which serves to transport the records in their various stages of completion from one work station to the next. In their order of succession, these work stations comprise, the raw-material-receiving station, the label-applying station, the record-pressing station, the hole-punching and flash trimming station, the record-cooling station and the finished-record-stacking station.

Believing that an understanding of the somewhat complex nature of the machine will be facilitated by an orderly system of numbers applied to the various elements and parts thereof, those numbers will be applied as follows:

Numbers 1 through 49 will relate to the frame structure including any crossmembers which may support operating parts.

Numbers 50 through 99 will relate to the plastic supply means.

Numbers 100 through 199 will relate to the sled and the portions thereof which engage and transport the records in its various stages of completion.

Numbers 200 through 299 will relate to the parts comprising the raw-material-receiving station.

Numbers 300 through 399 will relate to the parts comprising the label-applying station.

Numbers 400 through 499 will relate to the parts comprising the record-pressing station.

Numbers 500 through 599 will relate to the parts comprising the recording punching and flash trimming station.

Numbers 600 through 649 will relate to the parts comprising the record cooling station.

Numbers 650 through 699 will relate to the parts comprising the finished record stacking station.

Numbers 700 through 799 will relate to the electricai control system.

Numbers 800 through 899 will relate to the fluid systems including compressed air, steam and water.

Additionally, the record in its various stages of completion will be identified by the letter R with various increasing subscripts while the upper and lower labels will be identified as L. and L respectively.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. I and 2, the frame structure of the machine comprises a pair of spaced parallel longitudinally horizontal heavy metal plates I and 2 disposed with the width thereof in parallel vertical planes, said plates being maintained in said spaced parallel relation by various interconnecting frame members and other structural elements which will be referred to in detail as the description of the disclosed embodiment proceeds. A series of legs 3 having their upper ends attached to the outer surfaces of the plates 1 and 2 adjacent the respective ends thereof supports the said frame structure in horizontal relation to the floor on which the machine is placed, the front and rear pairs of said legs being connected adjacent the lower ends thereof by stretchers 4. For convenience in the description of the machine, the end of the frame structure at which the raw material is introduced will be designated at the front end of the machine and the end of the frame structure from which the finished product is removed will be designated as the rear end of the machine.

The frame structure supports a series of work stations best shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the stations being indicated from the front to the rear end of the machine and comprising the raw-material-receiving station 200, the label-applying station 300, the record pressing station 400, the record punching and trimming station 500, the record-cooling station 600 and the finished-record-stacking station 650.

The inner faces of the frame side members I and 2 adjacent the front ends thereof carry one each of a pair of mirror image bracket members 5, 5 each of which support a horizontal roller 6 disposed closely adjacent the frame member face and a vertical axis roller 7 spaced from said inner face and the inner faces of the frame members further carry one each of a pair of mirror image bracket members 8 rearwardly of the station 500 each of which similarly carries a horizontal axis roller 9 corresponding to the roller 6 and a vertical axis roller 10 corresponding to the roller 7. The sled comprises a pair of elongated side members or rails 101 and 102 which are of rectangular cross section and which are interconnected in spaced parallel relation by a pair of front crossmembers 103 and 103' and by rear crossmembers 104 and 105. The rails ride on the horizontal rollers 6,6 and 9,9 and the sled is main tained in spaced parallel relation to the inner faces of the side members 1 and 2 by the engagement of the inner faces of the rails 101 and 102 with the vertical axis rollers 7,7 and 10,10. The stations are disposed equal distances apart longitudinally of the frame structure and the sled has an extent of travel equal to the distance between adjacent stations. In the illustrated embodiment, the means for reciprocating the sled in its said travel comprises a double acting pneumatic cylinder 106 attached to the inner face of the front end of the frame member 1, said cylinder having a piston rod slidable in a stuffing box means at the front end of the cylinder and having its distal end 107 attached to a plate 108 depending from the front end of the sled. The means by which the cylinder is connected to a pressure source and is caused to be actuated at specified times will be described in detail in connection with the description of the operation of the machine.

Before proceeding to a more detailed description of the mechanism, it may be pointed out that the front end of the sled rails carry one each of a pair of laterally opposing jaw elements 109,109 which, when the sled is in its forward position, are at the material-receiving position 200 to engage the mass of heated plastic material R and to transport it to the label -applying position 300 on the rearward stroke of the sled. These sled rails further are provided with a pair of laterally opposing members 110,110 which are at station 300 when the sled is in its forward position and carry the plastic mass with the labels which are partially applied at station 300 and which is then known as the sandwich" and designated as R to the recordpressing station 400 on the next rearward movement of the sled. Likewise, the sled rails carry one each of a pair of record supporting members 111,111 which are mounted for horizontal movement with the sled and for bodily vertical movement relating to the sled which carry the pressed record R; from the pressing station 400 to the punching and trimming station 500 in the next rearward movement of the sled. The rear crossmember 104 of the sled is V-shaped as viewed in plan with the apex thereof extending rearwardly and carries vacuum cup devices to be later described in detail which engage the trimmed and punched record R, when the sled is at its forward position and at the rearward movement of the sled carry the engaged record to the cooling station 600. The rear ends of the sled rails are connected by the cross member 105 which also is provided with vacuum cup devices operative to pick up a record R, from station 600 and deposit it at the finished recordstacking station 650. Thus, it will be seen that at each rearward movement of the sled five individual records in different stages of completion are moved simultaneously from the station occupied at the beginning of the rearward movement of the sled to the stations at which the next operation is to be performed The forward end edges of the frame members 1 and 2 support brackets 50,50 carrying a commercially available mechanism, generally indicated at 51 which includes a hopper carrying a supply of the granular plastic material and a powerdriven kneading apparatus which through manipulation of the granular material generates sufficient heat in the material adjacent a discharge orifice 52 to render the material plastic. The discharge orifice 52 is located in the bottom surface of the mechanism 51 and is disposed above and in vertical axial alignment with a horizontal disc 201 having a depending central shank 202 which is mounted on and disposed in axial alignment with the upper or distal end of a piston rod 203 protruding from a double-acting pneumatic cylinder 204 which is secured to and depends from the underside of a crossmember 11 extending between the lower edges of the frame members 1 and 2. The upper surface of the disc 201 carries a low, centrally disposed boss 205 having a concave upper surface 206 which is axially aligned with the discharge orifice 52. Upon actuation in response to control means to be described, compressed air is supplied to the lower end of the cylinder 204 moving the piston (not shown) and the piston rod 203 with the disc 201 carried thereby upwardly. At the time this occurs, the sled is at its extreme forward position and the jaw elements 109,109 are disposed in opposing laterally spaced relation above the outer portion of the disc 201. The jaw elements 109,109 are carried on the free ends of one each of a pair of leaf spring assemblies 112,112 whose fixed ends are secured to the sled rails 101 and 102 by bolts 113, said leaf spring ele ments being supported against downward movement by underlying rigid bracket arms 114,114 which are also secured to the sled side rails by the bolts 113. Screws 115 secure one edge portion of each jaw element 109 to the associated spring leaf and the other edge of the jaw element projects beyond the distal end of the spring leaf and terminates in a shorter front gripping edge portion 116 parallel to the direction of travel of the sled and sloping downwardly toward the longitudinal centerline of the sled and a longer rear gripping edge 117 parallel to but offset slightly outwardly from the line of the edge 116. The screws 115 extend through the spring leaves and threadedly engage a pair of spacer blocks 118,110 at the under side of the spring leaves, said blocks overlying the edges of the disc 201 and upon upward movement of the disc by the cylinder 204 carry the distal ends of the springs upwardly until the top surfaces of the jaw elements 109,109 come into contact with the under surface of the plastic orifice member 52 and thus determine the thickness of the resulting plastic mass or biscuit. This upward displacement. of the jaw elements is shown in FlG. 7. Upon the accumulation ofa sufficient quantity of the molten plastic material on the disc 201 as determined by displacement of a feeler 701 (see PEG. 6) of the electrical control system and through means to be later described in detail, the feeding of the material is stopped, the pressure supply to the cylinder 204 being thereafter reversed as will be later described, returning the disc 201 to the position shown in FIG. 5a, leaving the biscuit R, suspended between thejaw elements 109,109. On the rearward stroke of the sled, the biscuit supporting means comprising the jaw elements 109,109 and their supporting leaf springs 112,112 carry the biscuit R to the label applying station 300 between the upper label magazine assembly 301 and the lower label magazine as sembly 302 which at that time are retracted to permit the free entry of the biscuit therebetween, a ramp element 303, forming a part of a stripper element for the lower magazine assembly insuring guidance of the biscuit between the two magazines. When this biscuit is thus positioned, control means to be described simultaneously supplies pneumatic pressure back of the pistons of cylinders 304 and 305 which respectively cause the upper and lower magazines to move toward each other a sufficient distance to slightly compress the still plastic biscuit and in so doing cause portions of the exposed obverse surfaces of the outermost upper and lower labels L, and L of the supplies thereof to be pressed against the surface of the biscuit and to be adhered thereto. The assembly 301 including the cylinder 304 is mounted on the under surface of a frame crossmember 12 having one end hingedly connected to the upper end of a bracket 13 carried by the frame member 1 and at its opposite end detachably secured by a latch pin 14 to a support 15 extending upwardly from the frame member 2. The assembly 302 is carried by a frame member 16 extending between the lower edges of the frame members 1 and 2 directly below the frame member 12 and secured by screws 17. The specific structure of the magazine assemblies and their operating cylinders will be presently described in detail.

While the biscuit and its thus partially applied labels (hereinafter designated as the sandwich") is being gripped by the magazine assemblies 301 and 302, the sled operating cylinder 106 is energized by means to be described to return the sled to its forward position, thus, disengaging the jaw elements 109,109 and bringing the pair ofjaw elements 110,110 carried by the distal ends of arms 119,119 which are secured to the sled rails 101 and 102 by bolts opposite the sides of the biscuit which is then being gripped by the magazine assemblies. As best shown in FIG. 12, the compression of the sand wich by the label-applying magazine assemblies expands the plastic mass laterally into engagement with the jaw elements 110,110 for transport thereby to the next station, the record press 400 on the next rearward movement of the sled. After the expiration of a predetermined time interval as will be presently explained, the application of pressure to the cylinders 304 and 305 is reversed and the magazines are retracted with at least partial stripping off of the adhered labels from the magazines. Upon the expiration of the time for the longest of the operations performed by the machine, the pressing of a record at station 400, the sled is again caused to make a rearward movement carrying the sandwich R into the recordpressing station 400 and then after the time interval allowed for the magazine assemblies to grip the next biscuit that has been moved into that station, the sled is returned to its forward position.

The record press means at station 400 comprises a head member 401 which rests on the upper edges of the frame members 1 and 2 and a base 402 engaging the lower edges of the frame members 1 and 2 directly below the head member, both of said members extending laterally beyond the outer faces of the frame members and being clamped to the frame members by tie rods 403 extending through bores at each corner of the head and base members closely exteriorly of the frame members 1 and 2 and having nuts 405 at each end thereof, dowel pins 401' engaging the upper edge of the frame members 1 and 2 serving to locate the head member and corresponding dowel pins 402' engaging the lower edges of the frame members 1 and serving to locate the base 402. The underface of the head member 401 carries the interchangeable die assembly 406 which carries a die insert 406' to form the upper face of the record and the said member further is provided with a vertical bore 407 extending through the die assembly and bore in which a piston means 408 is operatively connected to actuate a plunger 409 which is slideable in an axial bore 410 in the center plate 410' of the upper die assembly into and out of engagement with the record.

The press base 402 carries cylinder means generally indicated at 411 and including a piston rod component 412 which at its upper end carries a platen 413 on the upper face of which the interchangeable lower die assembly 414 is mounted, said die assembly carrying the interchangeable die assembly 414' to form the underface of the completed record. For the moment, it is sufficient to say that as soon as the sandwich R is moved between the die assemblies by the sled, the control system is actuated by means to be described to cause the plunger 409 to descend and anchor the sandwich against the lower die assembly, this action holding the sandwich against displacement as the sled is caused to move to its forward position carrying the jaw elements, 110,110 out of the path of the die assemblies and moving the members 111,111 to positions at each side of a vertical plane containing the peripheries of the two die assemblies. The return of the sled to its forward position actuates the control system to energize the press cylinder with resultant upward movement of the platen and lower die assembly and resultant pressing of the record, the surplus material being extruded between the die faces in the form of flash F. As a part of the pressing of the record, a centrally disposed conical pin 415 carried by the center plate member 415' of the lower die assembly cooperates with a larger, concentrically disposed conical recess 416 in the lower end of the plunger 409 to form a conical center portion on the pressed but untrimmed record R The flash is sufficiently wide so that the portions which are extruded at the sides of the die assemblies adjacent the edges of the record-supporting members 111,111 of the sled are extruded into the longitudinally extending T-slots 121,121 formed in the edges thereof. Upon completion of the pressing time interval, the application of pressure to the press cylinder 411 is reversed causing the platen and lower die assembly together with the pin 415 to drop away from the record R which remains supported by the said entry of the edges of the flash into the T-slots 121,121.

The members 111,111 are each carried by one each of a pair of heavy metal blocks 122,122 each having a vertical slot 123 extending therethrough freely slidably fitting over one each of a pair of guide members 124,124 carried by and extending upwardly from the sled rails 101 and 102. The edges of the members 111 remote from the T-slots 121 are clamped against overhanging ledges 122a on the blocks 122 by depending clamp members 122b and screws 122c extending through the clamp membersand the members 111 and threadedly engaging the blocks 122. The lower edges of the clamp members are outside of the periphery of the lower die insert and depend from the sled a distance such that upon upward movement of the platen, these members are carried upwardly and position the T-slots in the line of extrusion of flash from between the die faces. Upon completion of the record pressing operation, the weight of the blocks 122,122, which are now attached to the record, is sufficient to strip the record from the face of the upper die assembly and carry it down with the lower die assembly to the extent permitted by the engagement of the blocks 122,122 with the top surfaces of the rails, the downward movement of the lower die assembly and the platen being sufficiently greater to allow the pin 415 to be drawn free from the cavity formed thereby constituting the interior surface of the conical protuberance at the center of the record thus leaving the record suspended and free to be moved to station 500 for the next operations.

The trimming and punching station 500, comprises a die assembly 501 secured to a cross-frame member 18 extending between the frame members 1 and 2 and secured by screws 19 and the cooperating punch assembly 502 carried by a crossmember 20 having one end hingedly secured to a bracket 21 mounted on the upper edge of the frame member 1 and having its other end detachably secured by a latch pin 22 to a bracket member 23 mounted on the upper edge of the frame member 2. The punch assembly 502 includes a hollow punch 503 removably secured by a spring jaw collet means including a nut 503 at the end of the piston rod 504 of a double action cylinder 504'. Upon presentation of a record from the press station, the die assembly 501 is moved up to the plane of the underside of the record as will later be explained and the punch is caused to descend and first center the record by engagement with the outer sloping surface of said conical center portion and then punch out that portion with resultant formation of the center hole of the record. The timing system of the machine, as will be later explained, maintains the punch in its down position where it serves as the pivot or axle on which the record R freely turns as the flash is removed by trimming means generally indicated at 505 and which will later be described in detail. Upon completion of the trimming operation and the retraction of the trimming means, the cylinder 504' is actuated to withdraw the punch and in so doing the record clings to the exterior of the punch and until it encounters a stripper member 506 surrounding the punch and at that time the upper label area of the record is brought into contact with a series of vacuum cups carried at the underside of the apex portion of the sled crossmember 104 which, when the sled is at its forward position, is so disposed that the notch 126 thereof is slightly rearwardly of the stripper member 506.

The stripper member is generally tubular and includes a flange 507 at the upper end thereof through which screws 508 extend to secure the stripper member to the underside of the frame crossmember 20 in concentric relation with the punch. An intermediate portion of the wall of the stripper member is cut away as at 509 to provide clearance for the bracket arm 510 which is clamped to the piston rod 504 by a clamp screw 511, said bracket arm carrying a vertically upwardly extending guide plate 512 disposed in close parallel proximity to the front face of the frame crossmember 20 serving to prevent rotative movement of the piston rod and punch.

The cylinder 504' is secured to the upper face of a mounting block or base 513 which is secured by screws 513 to the upper side of the frame crossmember 20 and said face and crossmember are provided with aligned bores extending therethrough as at 514 in the axial line of the punch and die assemblies 501 and 502 and through which bores the piston rod 504 extends. The upper end of the die assembly operating cylinder 515 is secured to the under face of a mounting block or base 516 which is secured to the under face of the frame crossmember 18 by screws S16 and said base and crossmember are provided with aligned bores indicated at 517 which extend therethrough in the axial line of the punch and die assembly and through which bores the piston rod 519 for maximum accuracy and is received in a cylindrical socket 521 in the die block 522, said die block having a split side 523 extending into said socket and a clamp screw 524 extending across said split serves to clamp the die block on the piston rod.

The upper end of the die block 522 is provided with a cylindrical recess 525 in which the annular die element 526 which cooperates with the punch 503 is removably seated and is secured by a clamp screw 527 extending across the split 523 in a horizontal plane containing the recess 525. A guide plate 528 has its upper end attached to the rear face of the die block by screws 529, said guide plate thence extending downwardly along the front face of the frame crossmember 18 and thus serving to prevent relative rotational movement of the die block above the axis of the piston rod 518. A passage 530 extends diagonally downwardly and rearwardly from the center of the recess 525 through the die block and the guide plate 

1. An apparatus for manufacturing complete phonograph records from a supply of moldable plastic material and a supply of labels comprising: a frame structure supporting a plurality of different processing stations to which a record is delivered by a transport means in step-by-step progression for the performance of the various successive processes involved in the manufacture of the record; a pressing station and a hole-forming station, said pressing station pressing a record and simultaneously forming a concentrically disposed protuberance; and said hole-forming station including a means of centering said record with respect to the hole-forming apparatus by location on said protuberance prior to the formation of the hole.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said hole-forming apparatus is comprised of a punch and a die, said punch having a concentric cavity therein which is adapted to engage said protuberance on said record and encourage said record into concentric alignment with said punch by the initial travel of said punch prior to punching said hole by the continued travel of said punch with respect to said die.
 3. An apparatus for manufacturing complete phonograph records from a supply of moldable plastic material and a supply of labels, said apparatus including a frame structure supporting a plurality of different equidistantly spaced processing stations to which a record is delivered in step-by-step progression for the performance of the various successive processes involved in the manufacture of the record and a transport means movable on said frame structure along a path of travel defined by said stations, said processing stations including a material-receiving station, a label-applying station, and a press station, said transport means including record-engaging means operable simultaneously to carry all of the records from all of said stations at which processing has been performed in their respective stages of manufacture to the next ones of said stations in said step-by-step progression, said transport means being reciprocable on said frame structure in a path at least equal to the distance between adjacent ones of said stations and having holding means which are positioned, when said transport means is at the end of its said path of travel from which it moves to transport records progressively through said apparatus, to supportingly engage records at said material-receiving station, said label-applying station, said press station, and operative to transport all of said records so engaged simultaneously to the next station in a progression of operations, said holding means engaging said records at said material-receiving station and said label-applying station being means for undirectionally engaging said record for transport to said next station, whereby said record is positively encouraged to travel to said next station upon the forward motion of said transport means, but may readily slip out of said holding means upon the rearward movement of said transport means, said holding means engaging said records at said material-receiving station, said label-applying station and said press station by the plastic deformation of said records resulting from the processing performed at each of said stations.
 4. An apparatus for manufacturing complete phonograph records from a supply of moldable plastic material and a supply of labels, said apparatus including a frame structure supporting a plurality of different processing stations to which said plastic material is delivered in step-by-step progression for the performance of the various successive processes involved in the manufacture of a record, and a transport means movable on said frame structure along a path of travel defined by said stations, said processing stations including a label-applying station, said label-applying station having a pair of cylindrical label-supplying magazines disposed at opposite sides of the path of travel of said plastic material transported to said label-applying station by said transport means, each of said magazines having a closure member at the plastic-material-engaging end thereof, and each of said closure members having a D-configuration opening therein exposing a corresponding area of one of said labels for engagement with said plastic material, said D-configuration opening being disposed in the direction of the path of travel of said plastic material said apparatus, and said label-applying station further having pressure-applying devices operative to effect simultaneous engagement of the obverse sides of the exposed ones of the supplies of labels in said magazines to opposite sides of said plastic material with resultant simultaneous adhesion of one each of the labels to one each of the opposite sides of said plastic material.
 5. An apparatus for manufacturing complete phonograph records from a supply of moldable plastic material and a supply of labels, said apparatus including a frame structure supporting a plurality of different processing stations to which said plastic material is delivered in step-by-step progression for the performance of the various successive processes involved in the manufacture of a record, and a transport means movable on said frame structure along a path of travel defined by said stations, said processing stations including a label-applying station, said label-applying station having a pair of cylindrical label-supplying magazines disposed at opposite sides of the path of travel of said plastic material transported to said label-applying station by said transport means, each of said magazines having a closure member at the plastic-material-engaging end thereof, and each of said closure members having a D-configuration opening therein exposing a corresponding area of one of said labels for engagement with said plastic material, said D-configuration opening being disposed in the direction of the path of travel of said plastic material said apparatus, and said label-applying station further having pressure applying devices operative to effect simultaneous engagement of the obverse sides of the exposed ones of the supplies of labels in said magazines to opposite sides of said plastic material with resultant simultaneous adhesion of one each of the labels to one each of the opposite sides of said plastic material, said plastic-material-engaging end of each of said magazines further having a compliant member attached thereto extending from adjacent said plastic-material-engaging end of each of said magazines to a position rearward of said magazines and defining a converging channel in said path of travel of said plastic material, and said converging channel defining a free separation distance of said compliant members which is less than the thickness of said plastic material being delivered to said label-applying station so that said compliant members engage said plastic material as it is being delivered to said label-applying station and prevent the subsequent rearward movement of said plastic material upon the rearward movement of said transport means. 